ALL planned cuts to the fire service in Surrey must be halted in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy says Labour county councillor, Robert Evans.

Speaking this week, Mr Evans said that there will be many lessons that must be learnt from the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington.

And for some, people may need to wait for the results of the public inquiry but for others action can be taken immediately.

According to Mr Evans, there are many residential tower blocks in the north of Surrey, both at Sunbury Cross and in Addlestone, quite apart from those just across the London border.

“During the recent county council elections I campaigned hard to maintain fire cover in this area,” he continued.

“While the local Conservatives Party ridiculed me, no-one on the doorsteps ever thought closing a fire station was a good idea – even before this latest tragedy.

“Unbelievably, Surrey County Council still plans to cut by half, the fire cover in Spelthorne, reducing the numbers of pumps at Staines Fire Station to just one.

“This was never a good idea, it was always a risk and in the light of the Grenfell fire, this decision must now be reversed.”

He has written to the leader of the council, David Hodge, urging him to reconsider: “The cabinet member responsible is now Ashford’s councillor Denise Turner Stewart, who represents a seat, just 100m from the fire station the Conservatives have earmarked for closure.

“Additionally, I hope and expect, that Surrey County Council, its 11 boroughs and districts, will as an urgent priority, review the fire safety precautions in all its buildings across the county.”